(Trenton) - The New Jersey Department of Transportation announced today that it has received high marks from the state Treasury Department for protecting tax dollars during last winter’s historic storms.

A Treasury audit of snow plowing, salt-spreading and hauling contracts affirmed that NJDOT has effective monitoring systems in place to track trucks, time worked and hourly rates.

“We put the safety of New Jersey residents first and work around the clock during snowstorms, but our responsibility doesn’t end there,” said NJDOT Commissioner James Simpson. “This audit demonstrates that we take our duties very seriously when it comes to making sure that New Jersey taxpayers get a square deal for the money they provide.”

The audit determined that NJDOT properly reviewed the invoices and supporting documentation prior to making payments to its vendors, as required by state contract rules. Contractors provided approximately 1,500 pieces of equipment last year to augment the Department’s more than 500 pieces of snow-fighting equipment. Last winter, NJDOT faced off against 28 snowstorm incidents, including 14 that required statewide mobilization.